The City of Rockville's RainScapes Rewards Program is designed to help residential owners improve stormwater runoff conditions on their property by utilizing approved stormwater management techniques. Projects are designed to slow rainwater runoff and reduce the amount of stormwater entering local streams, increase groundwater supply, and reduce chemical and nutrient pollutants entering local streams. The program currently offers rebates for rain barrel installations and the replacement of turf grass with conservation landscaping techniques utilizing native plants.
Rainwater harvesting equipment captures rainwater runoff and reduces the amount of stormwater entering local streams, which leads to reduced chemical and nutrient pollutants entering waterways. Another environmental benefit of this equipment is water use for irrigation during droughts.
The RainScapes Rewards Program began March 1, 2008. Projects completed prior to March 1, 2008 are not eligible. At this time, financial rewards will be granted to residential properties for the installation of rain barrels. Residential properties are offered a financial rebate of $1 per gallon, with a minimum volume of 55 gallons. The maximum available rebate per household is $500 (500 gallons). If you are interested in participating in the rebate program, please download the application and agreement form.
Learn why rain barrels are a tool to protect City watersheds. Participants will receive information on how to buy, install and maintain rain barrels. The trainings are open on a first-come, first-served basis and registration is required. To register, call the RainScapes Coordinator at 240-314-8877 or e-mail rainscapes@rockvillemd.gov.
Training Sessions Training Materials: Participant Handouts and Presentation Slides (4.7MB). Please note: the 2011 rain barrel sale has sold out. 
Conservation landscaping is the removal of turf grass and replacement with plant species that have more extensive, deeper root systems. This, coupled with adequate mulching, may slow the flow of storm water run-off and allow for more groundwater recharge, while trapping nutrients and other pollutants in the soil for uptake by the plants. In conservation landscaping, preference is often given to native plants that attract pollinators. Additionally, those species with invasive properties are intentionally excluded.
The conservation landscaping component of the RainScapes Rewards Program began July 1, 2009. Projects completed prior to July 1, 2009, are not eligible. Residents are offered a financial rebate of $1 per square foot of turf grass or non-native invasive plants converted by employing conservation landscaping techniques (three-fourths of the total replacement plants must be native). The minimum area allowed to receive the rebate is $250. The maximum rebate per household is $750 (750 square feet converted). If you are interested in utilizing Conservation Landscaping methods and receiving a rebate, please download the application and agreement form.
Learn how utilizing conservation landscaping techniques helps to protect City watersheds. Participants will receive information on conservation landscaping techniques, including how to select, install and maintain native plants. The trainings are open on a first-come, first-served basis and registration is required. To register, call the RainScapes Coordinator at 240-314-8877 or e-mail rainscapes@rockvillemd.gov.
Training Sessions Training Materials: Presentation Slides (4.45MB) Invasive Plant Training
Learn about Rockville's Baker's Dirty Dozen. We will explore why invasive plants are bad for the environment and learn identification and removal techniques. The RainScapes program will be administered through the Environmental Management Division of the Department of Public Works. To learn more about the rebates, call the RainScapes Coordinator at 240-314-8877 or e-mail rainscapes@rockvillemd.gov.
The Tree Canopy Program provides incentives to residents for planting trees that meet the specifications outlined in the RainScapes Program. Planting trees on residential property helps to reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, provide wildlife habitat and contribute to savings on energy bills through the cooling effect of shade from trees.
Residents are offered a financial rebate of $150 per approved tree that meets the guidelines in the RainScapes Tree Canopy Application. The maximum available rebate per household for planting trees is $600 (4 trees).
If you are interested in planting trees and receiving a rebate, download the application and agreement form.
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